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Saturday, December 4, 2010
Ireland's Ruling Government Is About To Have Their Ass Handed To Them
Come January, it's payback. The Irish are mad, and ready to kick some Fianna Fail ass. The other traditional opposition parties(Fine Gael, in first, at the moment, Labour in second and Sinn Fein, third) are crushing Fianna Fail(by default) which has dropped to last place in the "major" parties (not counting the Greens), and elections are slated for the second week of January. In a quirk of Irish politics, Fine Gael is to the right of Fianna Fail, but works with Labour, which is similar in spirit to the progressive left of the American Democratic Party. (It would be nice to have that cooperation stateside, but, you know..)
Fianna Fail has seen their popularity plummet from 42 percent to 13 percent, and are projected to lose as many as 55 seats in this disaster election scenario created by their greed and unshakable allegiance to the banks that got them in trouble in the first place. And now, members of its own party might not follow suit for December 7th's budget vote. And if the budget doesn't pass and Ireland refuses the bailout and the entire government collapses, this will cause a whole new set of problems for the EU, the IMF, and bankers from other countries. Stay tuned..
Fianna Fail has seen their popularity plummet from 42 percent to 13 percent, and are projected to lose as many as 55 seats in this disaster election scenario created by their greed and unshakable allegiance to the banks that got them in trouble in the first place. And now, members of its own party might not follow suit for December 7th's budget vote. And if the budget doesn't pass and Ireland refuses the bailout and the entire government collapses, this will cause a whole new set of problems for the EU, the IMF, and bankers from other countries. Stay tuned..
Now my life is at risk, says WikiLeaks chief ... and he promises to publish files on UFOs and aliens
Wow.. I thought this was a parody article, but it is definitely not. Beautiful excerpts in italics:
.. Julian Assange also revealed he would publish classified U.S. files about aliens and unidentified flying objects.
..
In a fresh twist, Mr Assange, who is in hiding somewhere near London, pledged to publish leaked diplomat cables relating to flying saucers.
..
But he said: ‘It is worth noting that in yet-to-be-published parts of the cablegate archive there are indeed references to UFO's.'
Oh F/N Snap! Every day, new secrets drop, bombshells here and there.. But when UFO cables start coming out(Proving the phenomenon either real or fake), the space bombshells could be too big to ignore, and will require a response from both the government and the media.
And now, if what Julian Assange said is true, the truth really is out there.. Already.
.. Julian Assange also revealed he would publish classified U.S. files about aliens and unidentified flying objects.
..
In a fresh twist, Mr Assange, who is in hiding somewhere near London, pledged to publish leaked diplomat cables relating to flying saucers.
..
But he said: ‘It is worth noting that in yet-to-be-published parts of the cablegate archive there are indeed references to UFO's.'
Oh F/N Snap! Every day, new secrets drop, bombshells here and there.. But when UFO cables start coming out(Proving the phenomenon either real or fake), the space bombshells could be too big to ignore, and will require a response from both the government and the media.
And now, if what Julian Assange said is true, the truth really is out there.. Already.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Korean Update-Or-At Least Someone's Making Money..
Dollar Rises Against Euro on Prospect U.S. Payrolls Expanded
North Korea may attack the province that surrounds Seoul, the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper said, citing an unidentified person who quoted an official in the communist nation. South Korea will hold artillery drills on Yeonpyeong, the island shelled by the North last week, on Dec. 6, television broadcaster MBN reported today, citing government officials it didn’t identify.
Japan and the U.S. will conduct a joint military exercise from tomorrow until Dec. 10.
“Geopolitical risk appears to be returning a bit on worries that North Korea may attack the South,” said Satoshi Okagawa, head of the foreign-exchange and money trading group in Singapore at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., a unit of Japan’s third-largest banking group. “There’s some safe-haven buying of the yen and the dollar.”
And:
The won strengthened for a third day as funds based abroad bought $373 million more Korean shares than they sold yesterday, the biggest net purchases in almost three weeks, exchange data show. The Kospi index of shares posted its highest close since Nov. 10 on optimism that tensions between North and South Korea are easing.
“We haven’t seen North Korean retaliation, which they pledged to do after the attack, and the lack of negative events let risk aversion subside,” said Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong. “Positive sentiment globally boosted appetite for risk assets like the Korean won.”
US, Japan begin war games; China denounces drills
In an ongoing show of force following a deadly North Korean attack on a front-line island, the U.S. and Japan began one of their biggest-ever military exercises Friday, mobilizing more than 44,000 troops, hundreds of aircraft and a U.S. supercarrier.
The drills come just after the U.S. and South Korea concluded maneuvers in the Yellow Sea. The exercises brought immediate criticism from China, which is wary of having foreign navies off its shores and has been increasingly assertive over large swaths of waters in the south and east China seas, where some of the drills would take place.
..
The Nov. 23 North Korean attack killed two South Korean marines and two civilians on Yeonpyeong Island, a tiny enclave of civilians and military bases located near a disputed maritime border.
The attack has heightened tensions in the region and renewed fears of a bigger clash breaking out that could draw in neighboring countries, including Japan, where about 50,000 U.S. troops are based under a security pact.
South Korea’s New Defense Chief Threatens Air Strikes on North
South Korea’s new defense minister vowed retaliation that would include airstrikes if North Korea makes another attack following last month’s deadly artillery bombardment.
“I will mobilize all combat capabilities available to severely punish the enemy,” Kim Kwan Jin, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said today at a confirmation hearing. “I will surely use planes. This is a matter of self-defense.”
This may be a sign that the crisis is cooling a bit..
“The latest tough talk seemed to be mostly aimed at deterring North Korea from further provocations,” said Kim Yong Hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul. “There is only so much South Korea can do in terms of tough actions when there’s little assurance of how far North Korea will go.”
Or maybe cooling not so much..
A news report says North Korea now has more multiple-launch rockets capable of hitting Seoul.
Yonhap news agency says North Korea has increased its arsenal of rockets by 100 pieces to about 5,200. Yonhap cited an unidentified South Korean military source.
The agency says the rockets have a range of 37 miles (60 kilometers), putting Seoul within striking distance.
North Korea may attack the province that surrounds Seoul, the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper said, citing an unidentified person who quoted an official in the communist nation. South Korea will hold artillery drills on Yeonpyeong, the island shelled by the North last week, on Dec. 6, television broadcaster MBN reported today, citing government officials it didn’t identify.
Japan and the U.S. will conduct a joint military exercise from tomorrow until Dec. 10.
“Geopolitical risk appears to be returning a bit on worries that North Korea may attack the South,” said Satoshi Okagawa, head of the foreign-exchange and money trading group in Singapore at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., a unit of Japan’s third-largest banking group. “There’s some safe-haven buying of the yen and the dollar.”
And:
The won strengthened for a third day as funds based abroad bought $373 million more Korean shares than they sold yesterday, the biggest net purchases in almost three weeks, exchange data show. The Kospi index of shares posted its highest close since Nov. 10 on optimism that tensions between North and South Korea are easing.
“We haven’t seen North Korean retaliation, which they pledged to do after the attack, and the lack of negative events let risk aversion subside,” said Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior economist at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong. “Positive sentiment globally boosted appetite for risk assets like the Korean won.”
US, Japan begin war games; China denounces drills
In an ongoing show of force following a deadly North Korean attack on a front-line island, the U.S. and Japan began one of their biggest-ever military exercises Friday, mobilizing more than 44,000 troops, hundreds of aircraft and a U.S. supercarrier.
The drills come just after the U.S. and South Korea concluded maneuvers in the Yellow Sea. The exercises brought immediate criticism from China, which is wary of having foreign navies off its shores and has been increasingly assertive over large swaths of waters in the south and east China seas, where some of the drills would take place.
..
The Nov. 23 North Korean attack killed two South Korean marines and two civilians on Yeonpyeong Island, a tiny enclave of civilians and military bases located near a disputed maritime border.
The attack has heightened tensions in the region and renewed fears of a bigger clash breaking out that could draw in neighboring countries, including Japan, where about 50,000 U.S. troops are based under a security pact.
South Korea’s New Defense Chief Threatens Air Strikes on North
South Korea’s new defense minister vowed retaliation that would include airstrikes if North Korea makes another attack following last month’s deadly artillery bombardment.
“I will mobilize all combat capabilities available to severely punish the enemy,” Kim Kwan Jin, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said today at a confirmation hearing. “I will surely use planes. This is a matter of self-defense.”
This may be a sign that the crisis is cooling a bit..
“The latest tough talk seemed to be mostly aimed at deterring North Korea from further provocations,” said Kim Yong Hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University in Seoul. “There is only so much South Korea can do in terms of tough actions when there’s little assurance of how far North Korea will go.”
Or maybe cooling not so much..
A news report says North Korea now has more multiple-launch rockets capable of hitting Seoul.
Yonhap news agency says North Korea has increased its arsenal of rockets by 100 pieces to about 5,200. Yonhap cited an unidentified South Korean military source.
The agency says the rockets have a range of 37 miles (60 kilometers), putting Seoul within striking distance.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Secret State Secures, Supports Somali Soldiers
A lot of alliteration and allegations regarding the Horn of Africa's crazypants country, eh? 1,000-Man Militia Being Trained In North Somalia. All the ingredients for a super weird, intriguing, politically charged situation slash latest George Clooney thriller are here(Of course, this isn't the plot of Clooney's latest; but it could be!): In the northern reaches of Somalia and the country's presidential palace, a well-equipped military force is being created, funded by a mysterious donor nation that is also paying for the services of a former CIA officer and a senior ex-U.S. diplomat.
..
training for an anti-piracy force of up to 1,050 men has already begun in Puntland, a semiautonomous region in northern Somalia that is believed to hold reserves of oil and gas.
But key elements remain unknown — mainly who is providing the millions of dollars in funding and for what ultimate purpose.
Pierre Prosper, an ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues(Heh. This guy's desk probably had two inches of dust covering it..) under former President George W. Bush, told AP he is being paid by a Muslim nation he declined to identify to be a legal adviser to the Somali government, focusing on security, transparency and anti-corruption. (Read that again. Then again. Still senseless, right?)
Somalia hasn't had a fully functioning government since 1991 and is torn between clan warlords, Islamist insurgent factions, an 8,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force, government forces and allied groups. Given that mix, the appearance of an unknown donor with deep pockets is troubling, said E.J. Hogendoorn, a Nairobi-based analyst with the International Crisis Group.
"We don't know if this unknown entity is operating in the interests of Somalis or their own self-interest," he said in an interview. "If it's a company, there has to be a quid pro quo in terms of (oil and gas) concessions. If it's a government, they are interested in changing the balance of power."
..
"You cannot have oil exploration if you have insecurity," Mohamed Farole said. "You have to eliminate the pirates and al-Shabab."
Energy exploration has started mainly just south of the mountains, although the amount of estimated reserves is unknown, or at least not publicly divulged.
Michael Shanklin, who was the CIA's deputy chief of station in Mogadishu 20 years ago, told AP he is employed by the unidentified donor country as a security adviser and liaison to the Somali government. Prosper said he is encouraging the Muslim donor nation, which insists on keeping its identity secret, to become more transparent. (The only one saying this "unknown" country is "Muslim" is a former CIA deputy chief. It might be true, but I'd like a second opinion before believing this..)
And:
In recent weeks, Shanklin and Prosper met several Nairobi-based diplomats to discuss the contract between the Puntland and Mogadishu governments and a private security company called Saracen International, Prosper said in written replies to questions from AP. Prosper said Saracen is doing the military training and is being paid by the unnamed Muslim nation. Saracen is not providing the militia with any weapons, he said.
Uganda-based Saracen International was named in a March letter written by the Somali president's former chief of staff, Abdulkareem Jama, and obtained by AP that described training for the presidential guard. And it was named in a Nov. 18 statement from Puntland's government announcing the anti-piracy training. Bill Pelser, the chief executive of Saracen International, said it is "definitely a mistake or a misrepresentation."
Pelser denied being involved in the training program in Puntland or the one for the presidential guard in Mogadishu, saying he merely made introductions for another company called Saracen Lebanon. Lebanese authorities have no record of a company called Saracen. Pelser did not respond to requests for contact information for Saracen Lebanon.
Pelser is a former South African special forces soldier. Like many of his staff, he used to work for Executive Outcomes, a South African mercenary outfit credited with helping defeat rebel forces in Sierra Leone in return for mineral concessions.(Fantastic. Subplots within denials, misdirection and nonexistent companies with no follow up information. Clear cut, so far..)
..
Whoever controls a well-trained, well-equipped and consistently paid military force is in a strong position to make a bid for filling the power vacuum in Somalia.
..
The U.N. is quietly investigating to see if the creation and outfitting of the new military force violates an arms embargo.. (Creating an army is considered violating an arms embargo?)
The embargo forbids the importation of arms, military equipment or any support to any armed group in Somalia, including to any Somali government, without authorization from the U.N.'s sanctions committee. There is an exemption for support for counter-piracy operations, provided the Security Council was notified and gave permission. In the case of the new military force, the Security Council was not notified. (Not notified? Another shock, I tells ya..)
Let's see.. A politically somewhat stable region of an unstable country with factional leadership and continual infighting receives support and paramilitary training from an unknown, possibly "Muslim" nation in exchange for unknown monies/ influence/ resources. Unknown country is facilitated in their efforts by a South African former mercenary, a Ugandan "anti-piracy" training something-or-other corporation, a former CIA deputy chief, and a former Bush administration official as Liaison?
When this becomes a movie, I certainly hope Clive Owen plays the South African mercenary. So sexy, and I'm sure he can handle the accent..
..
training for an anti-piracy force of up to 1,050 men has already begun in Puntland, a semiautonomous region in northern Somalia that is believed to hold reserves of oil and gas.
But key elements remain unknown — mainly who is providing the millions of dollars in funding and for what ultimate purpose.
Pierre Prosper, an ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues(Heh. This guy's desk probably had two inches of dust covering it..) under former President George W. Bush, told AP he is being paid by a Muslim nation he declined to identify to be a legal adviser to the Somali government, focusing on security, transparency and anti-corruption. (Read that again. Then again. Still senseless, right?)
Somalia hasn't had a fully functioning government since 1991 and is torn between clan warlords, Islamist insurgent factions, an 8,000-strong African Union peacekeeping force, government forces and allied groups. Given that mix, the appearance of an unknown donor with deep pockets is troubling, said E.J. Hogendoorn, a Nairobi-based analyst with the International Crisis Group.
"We don't know if this unknown entity is operating in the interests of Somalis or their own self-interest," he said in an interview. "If it's a company, there has to be a quid pro quo in terms of (oil and gas) concessions. If it's a government, they are interested in changing the balance of power."
..
"You cannot have oil exploration if you have insecurity," Mohamed Farole said. "You have to eliminate the pirates and al-Shabab."
Energy exploration has started mainly just south of the mountains, although the amount of estimated reserves is unknown, or at least not publicly divulged.
Michael Shanklin, who was the CIA's deputy chief of station in Mogadishu 20 years ago, told AP he is employed by the unidentified donor country as a security adviser and liaison to the Somali government. Prosper said he is encouraging the Muslim donor nation, which insists on keeping its identity secret, to become more transparent. (The only one saying this "unknown" country is "Muslim" is a former CIA deputy chief. It might be true, but I'd like a second opinion before believing this..)
And:
In recent weeks, Shanklin and Prosper met several Nairobi-based diplomats to discuss the contract between the Puntland and Mogadishu governments and a private security company called Saracen International, Prosper said in written replies to questions from AP. Prosper said Saracen is doing the military training and is being paid by the unnamed Muslim nation. Saracen is not providing the militia with any weapons, he said.
Uganda-based Saracen International was named in a March letter written by the Somali president's former chief of staff, Abdulkareem Jama, and obtained by AP that described training for the presidential guard. And it was named in a Nov. 18 statement from Puntland's government announcing the anti-piracy training. Bill Pelser, the chief executive of Saracen International, said it is "definitely a mistake or a misrepresentation."
Pelser denied being involved in the training program in Puntland or the one for the presidential guard in Mogadishu, saying he merely made introductions for another company called Saracen Lebanon. Lebanese authorities have no record of a company called Saracen. Pelser did not respond to requests for contact information for Saracen Lebanon.
Pelser is a former South African special forces soldier. Like many of his staff, he used to work for Executive Outcomes, a South African mercenary outfit credited with helping defeat rebel forces in Sierra Leone in return for mineral concessions.(Fantastic. Subplots within denials, misdirection and nonexistent companies with no follow up information. Clear cut, so far..)
..
Whoever controls a well-trained, well-equipped and consistently paid military force is in a strong position to make a bid for filling the power vacuum in Somalia.
..
The U.N. is quietly investigating to see if the creation and outfitting of the new military force violates an arms embargo.. (Creating an army is considered violating an arms embargo?)
The embargo forbids the importation of arms, military equipment or any support to any armed group in Somalia, including to any Somali government, without authorization from the U.N.'s sanctions committee. There is an exemption for support for counter-piracy operations, provided the Security Council was notified and gave permission. In the case of the new military force, the Security Council was not notified. (Not notified? Another shock, I tells ya..)
Let's see.. A politically somewhat stable region of an unstable country with factional leadership and continual infighting receives support and paramilitary training from an unknown, possibly "Muslim" nation in exchange for unknown monies/ influence/ resources. Unknown country is facilitated in their efforts by a South African former mercenary, a Ugandan "anti-piracy" training something-or-other corporation, a former CIA deputy chief, and a former Bush administration official as Liaison?
When this becomes a movie, I certainly hope Clive Owen plays the South African mercenary. So sexy, and I'm sure he can handle the accent..
Remember That UFO Story In New York City Back In October?
Here's the raw footage. Provided by CBS News, no less. Watch the entire video. These were not balloons. Not balloons. NOT BALLOONS.
Project Bluebeam, maybe, but not balloons.
Project Bluebeam, maybe, but not balloons.
File Under: Drug Lord Man Crush, Or "Bieberlicious."
Druglord Loves Justin Bieber (Fantastic Outsider art mural picture included..)
Justin Bieber has groupies where you'd least expect them. An army of Brazilian cops raided the Rio headquarters of one of the country's most notorious drug gangs.
According to Perez Hilton, it appeared to be a typical seizure. 11 tons of marijuana, a “small arsenal” of weapons and… a gigantic mural of Justin Bieber?
I wonder what 2 a.m., any night, pre-bust at the casa was like? Who would film such a scene: David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino, or Brian DePalma?
Side note: Three years ago, Justin Bieber could still be confused for a "normal" kid.
Justin Bieber has groupies where you'd least expect them. An army of Brazilian cops raided the Rio headquarters of one of the country's most notorious drug gangs.
According to Perez Hilton, it appeared to be a typical seizure. 11 tons of marijuana, a “small arsenal” of weapons and… a gigantic mural of Justin Bieber?
I wonder what 2 a.m., any night, pre-bust at the casa was like? Who would film such a scene: David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino, or Brian DePalma?
Side note: Three years ago, Justin Bieber could still be confused for a "normal" kid.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
New York Earthquake Jolts Long Island
Interesting location for a quake.
New York City was jolted by a 3.9-magnitude earthquake Tuesday morning, rocking the area around Long Island.
..
It is thought to be the biggest quake in the region in more than 18 years.
New York City was jolted by a 3.9-magnitude earthquake Tuesday morning, rocking the area around Long Island.
..
It is thought to be the biggest quake in the region in more than 18 years.
Nothing To Deny As There's Nothing To Deny
US navy seeks to move jet fuel in rare Japan-Korea route It's the "little stories" that worry me.. Excerpts:
The United States navy is seeking a medium-range oil tanker to move at least 30,000 tonnes of jet fuel from Japan to South Korea, industry sources said on Wednesday, at a time of heightened military tension on the Korean peninsula.
The transport route is unusual for jet fuel, shipping sources said, but an unnamed US military official said shipments of fuel for operational use are standard.
So.. Sources in shipping say this is unusual and the military says this is usual. I'm sure the military's right..
"We don't have any information on what you are talking about in terms of the contracting," the US military official said. (Really? Nothing?)
"There is no particular movement that has taken place in response to an incident in terms of large delivery of jet fuel or anything else."
Interesting choice of words, "no particular movement" is.
The United States navy is seeking a medium-range oil tanker to move at least 30,000 tonnes of jet fuel from Japan to South Korea, industry sources said on Wednesday, at a time of heightened military tension on the Korean peninsula.
The transport route is unusual for jet fuel, shipping sources said, but an unnamed US military official said shipments of fuel for operational use are standard.
So.. Sources in shipping say this is unusual and the military says this is usual. I'm sure the military's right..
"We don't have any information on what you are talking about in terms of the contracting," the US military official said. (Really? Nothing?)
"There is no particular movement that has taken place in response to an incident in terms of large delivery of jet fuel or anything else."
Interesting choice of words, "no particular movement" is.
My God; It's Full Of Stars..
From AboveTopSecret, originating from Astrosurf. Someone's been busy. Excerpt:
This image is a 1 billion pixel RVB mosaic of the galactic center region (340 millions pixels in each R,V and B color). It shows the region spanning from Sagittarius (with the Milky Way center and M8/M20 area on the left) to Scorpius (with colorful Antares and Rho Ophiuchus region on the right) and cat paw nebula (red nebula at the bottom). This mosaic was assembled from 52 different sky fields made from 1200 individual images and 200 hours total exposure time, final image size is 24000x14000 pixels. The images were taken with a SBIG STL camera + Takahashi FSQ106Ed f/3.6 telescope and NJP160 mount from the clear skies of ESO Paranal Observatory in Chile. This mosaic is one of the three parts of the ESO Gigagalaxy Zoom project together with this incredible whole sky mosaic image by ESO/S.Brunier and this fantastic ESO mosaic image of the Lagoon nebula region.
Check all these links out. These images are amazing. Some will resonate with their form of "heaven," whatever that is, while more logical types might consider our species progress thousands of years from now, our future ancestors spreading out further in our system, galaxy, or universe than we can possibly imagine. Consider: Each and every one of these worlds, each of these points of light, could,*could* host a form of consciousness, a location for interwoven experience, for perspective, for lifeforms that we, now, couldn't begin to understand.. They could. Could.
Now remember: These are only the entities we are aware of. These are only images of Observable Space, observed from our vantage point only. What's out there that we don't see?
Are you beginning to grasp the enormity, the totality, the magnificence, the infinite nature of all that surrounds you?
This image is a 1 billion pixel RVB mosaic of the galactic center region (340 millions pixels in each R,V and B color). It shows the region spanning from Sagittarius (with the Milky Way center and M8/M20 area on the left) to Scorpius (with colorful Antares and Rho Ophiuchus region on the right) and cat paw nebula (red nebula at the bottom). This mosaic was assembled from 52 different sky fields made from 1200 individual images and 200 hours total exposure time, final image size is 24000x14000 pixels. The images were taken with a SBIG STL camera + Takahashi FSQ106Ed f/3.6 telescope and NJP160 mount from the clear skies of ESO Paranal Observatory in Chile. This mosaic is one of the three parts of the ESO Gigagalaxy Zoom project together with this incredible whole sky mosaic image by ESO/S.Brunier and this fantastic ESO mosaic image of the Lagoon nebula region.
Check all these links out. These images are amazing. Some will resonate with their form of "heaven," whatever that is, while more logical types might consider our species progress thousands of years from now, our future ancestors spreading out further in our system, galaxy, or universe than we can possibly imagine. Consider: Each and every one of these worlds, each of these points of light, could,*could* host a form of consciousness, a location for interwoven experience, for perspective, for lifeforms that we, now, couldn't begin to understand.. They could. Could.
Now remember: These are only the entities we are aware of. These are only images of Observable Space, observed from our vantage point only. What's out there that we don't see?
Are you beginning to grasp the enormity, the totality, the magnificence, the infinite nature of all that surrounds you?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Jupiter's Missing Cloud Stripe Bounces Back Big Time
From Space dot com..
The dark brown stripe of clouds on Jupiter that disappeared from view last year is reappearing.
Astronomers confirmed Wednesday (Nov. 24) that the gas giant's South Equatorial Belt (SEB), one of two distinctive dark stripes formed by the planet's cloud chemistry and winds, is coming back. They attributed the return of the view to a shift in Jupiter's cloud cover.
The dark brown stripe of clouds on Jupiter that disappeared from view last year is reappearing.
Astronomers confirmed Wednesday (Nov. 24) that the gas giant's South Equatorial Belt (SEB), one of two distinctive dark stripes formed by the planet's cloud chemistry and winds, is coming back. They attributed the return of the view to a shift in Jupiter's cloud cover.
Let's Talk About EU, Man..
Irish bailout 'stuns' experts The €35bn (£29.8bn) going into Ireland's banks shocked experts, who feared bailout might or might not help Ireland, but in any case might not contain contagion elsewhere in the eurozone.
Brian Lucey, associate professor of finance at Trinity College Dublin was "stunned" at the cash poured in: "We've already put at least €32bn into them, so that's going to be €67bn, which is 50% of GNP, that's a world record". He also warned that a new government next year could rip up the deal. "Sovereign governments have a right to effectively do whatever they want," he said.
Portugal's still feeling the heat.. Portugal's high debt burden remained a concern for the eurozone and financial markets on Monday, a day after European Union countries endorsed a plan to help Ireland with its ailing finances.
Officials in the 16 nations using the euro currency had hoped Sunday's agreement to give euro67.5 billion ($89.4 billion) in loans to Dublin would check the spread of investor jitters to other fiscally vulnerable members of the bloc, especially Portugal and Spain.
Portugal is regarded as the next weakest link after Ireland because of its high debt load and weak growth. It has been a target for market concern since Greece's bailout in May.
Trouble in Portugal also could affect neighboring Spain, where low growth and high unemployment are shackling the economy.
And:
Roubini, a professor of economics at New York University who had predicted the financial crisis, told daily paper Diario Economico it is "increasingly likely" Portugal will require international assistance.
He was quoted as saying there are ample funds to shore up Portugal, one of the eurozone's smaller countries which contributes less than 2 percent to the 16-nation bloc's gross domestic product. Roubini said Portugal is approaching "a critical point."
But, he said, Spain, Europe's fourth-largest economy, is "too big to bail out."
Meanwhile, in Greece: You know things are bad when governments can't buy arms from other governments..
Spain continues to reel: Irish backlash hits Spain, EU warns of blow to growth Contains the sentence: He commented: "Are we witnessing the early stages of a breakdown of the euro and indeed, possibly the European Union as well?"
Wiki Leaks and Korea are more sensational, but this story is no less important. The possibility of a debt implosion contagion spreading to multiple countries thereby jeopardizing the whole European Union is, at this moment, very real. We are still in unknown territory, and none of the related news is optimistic.
And, lest we forget.. Let the protests begin!
Brian Lucey, associate professor of finance at Trinity College Dublin was "stunned" at the cash poured in: "We've already put at least €32bn into them, so that's going to be €67bn, which is 50% of GNP, that's a world record". He also warned that a new government next year could rip up the deal. "Sovereign governments have a right to effectively do whatever they want," he said.
Portugal's still feeling the heat.. Portugal's high debt burden remained a concern for the eurozone and financial markets on Monday, a day after European Union countries endorsed a plan to help Ireland with its ailing finances.
Officials in the 16 nations using the euro currency had hoped Sunday's agreement to give euro67.5 billion ($89.4 billion) in loans to Dublin would check the spread of investor jitters to other fiscally vulnerable members of the bloc, especially Portugal and Spain.
Portugal is regarded as the next weakest link after Ireland because of its high debt load and weak growth. It has been a target for market concern since Greece's bailout in May.
Trouble in Portugal also could affect neighboring Spain, where low growth and high unemployment are shackling the economy.
And:
Roubini, a professor of economics at New York University who had predicted the financial crisis, told daily paper Diario Economico it is "increasingly likely" Portugal will require international assistance.
He was quoted as saying there are ample funds to shore up Portugal, one of the eurozone's smaller countries which contributes less than 2 percent to the 16-nation bloc's gross domestic product. Roubini said Portugal is approaching "a critical point."
But, he said, Spain, Europe's fourth-largest economy, is "too big to bail out."
Meanwhile, in Greece: You know things are bad when governments can't buy arms from other governments..
Spain continues to reel: Irish backlash hits Spain, EU warns of blow to growth Contains the sentence: He commented: "Are we witnessing the early stages of a breakdown of the euro and indeed, possibly the European Union as well?"
Wiki Leaks and Korea are more sensational, but this story is no less important. The possibility of a debt implosion contagion spreading to multiple countries thereby jeopardizing the whole European Union is, at this moment, very real. We are still in unknown territory, and none of the related news is optimistic.
And, lest we forget.. Let the protests begin!
Cassini reveals oxygen atmosphere of Saturn's moon Rhea
From e! Science News Excerpts:
A tenuous atmosphere infused with oxygen and carbon-dioxide has been discovered at Saturn's moon Rhea by the Cassini-Huygens mission, the first time a spacecraft has captured direct evidence of an oxygen atmosphere at a world other than Earth. The NASA-led international mission made the discovery using combined data from Cassini's instruments, which includes a sensor designed and built at UCL's (University College London) Mullard Space Science Laboratory.
Published today in Science Express, results from the mission reveal that the atmosphere of Rhea, Saturn's second largest moon at 1500 km wide, is extremely thin and is sustained by high energy particles bombarding its icy surface and kicking up atoms, molecules and ions into the atmosphere.
The density of oxygen is probably about 5 trillion times less dense than in Earth's atmosphere. However, the formation of oxygen and carbon dioxide could possibly drive complex chemistry on the surfaces of many icy bodies in the universe.
"The new results suggest that active, complex chemistry involving oxygen may be quite common throughout the solar system and even our universe," said Dr Ben Teolis, a Cassini team scientist based at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio and lead author. "Such chemistry could be a pre-requisite for life. All evidence from Cassini indicates Rhea is too cold and devoid of the liquid water necessary for life as we know it."
All evidence.. For now..
A tenuous atmosphere infused with oxygen and carbon-dioxide has been discovered at Saturn's moon Rhea by the Cassini-Huygens mission, the first time a spacecraft has captured direct evidence of an oxygen atmosphere at a world other than Earth. The NASA-led international mission made the discovery using combined data from Cassini's instruments, which includes a sensor designed and built at UCL's (University College London) Mullard Space Science Laboratory.
Published today in Science Express, results from the mission reveal that the atmosphere of Rhea, Saturn's second largest moon at 1500 km wide, is extremely thin and is sustained by high energy particles bombarding its icy surface and kicking up atoms, molecules and ions into the atmosphere.
The density of oxygen is probably about 5 trillion times less dense than in Earth's atmosphere. However, the formation of oxygen and carbon dioxide could possibly drive complex chemistry on the surfaces of many icy bodies in the universe.
"The new results suggest that active, complex chemistry involving oxygen may be quite common throughout the solar system and even our universe," said Dr Ben Teolis, a Cassini team scientist based at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio and lead author. "Such chemistry could be a pre-requisite for life. All evidence from Cassini indicates Rhea is too cold and devoid of the liquid water necessary for life as we know it."
All evidence.. For now..
Monday, November 29, 2010
Korean Update
Saber rattling continues near NLL Excerpts:
Tensions are heightening in the area around Yeonpyeong Island, with the confirmation that North Korean forces deployed multi-launch rocket systems (MLRSs) forward to a coastal location facing the island and opened additional naval artillery firing ports on Sunday, the first day of joint South Korea-U.S. exercises. The North Korean military was also reported to have stepped up its anti-air posture targeting aerial activity by South Korean fighter planes, with the forward deployment of SA-2 earth-to-air missiles in the area north of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong Islands.
“The North Korean military was found to have deployed some of its 122 mm MLRSs forward to an inland area near Kaemori, from which the attack on Yeonpyeong Island was launched, and opened additional 76.2 mm naval artillery firing ports besides the previous fourteen locations,” said a military official said Sunday. “The South Korean military is also stepping up its alertness posture to prepare for a potential provocation situation.”
“It appears that North Korea positioned SA-2 earth-to-air missiles to the front following the attack on Yeonpyeong Island,” said a government source. “The government is mobilizing all its resources to precisely monitor the movements.”
Military authorities are taking this activity from North Korea as targeting South Korean fighter planes flying in the area near the NLL. The SA-2 is an anti-aircraft missile developed by the former Soviet Union, and has a firing range of 13 to 30 kilometers. The anti-ship missiles positioned by North Korean on the West Sea coast north of the NLL include Samlets and Silkworms, with a firing range of 80 km.
Although Monday's exercises were cancelled because of bad weather, the tension is still very high. North Korea is even using the really cool phrase "Ultra-Emergency" to describe the situation.. The South Korean military is protesting, and South Korea's President said Monday "Kick sand in our face just one more time and there's gonna be trouble.." Shit's heating up, yo.. Like I said, more updates to come..
Tensions are heightening in the area around Yeonpyeong Island, with the confirmation that North Korean forces deployed multi-launch rocket systems (MLRSs) forward to a coastal location facing the island and opened additional naval artillery firing ports on Sunday, the first day of joint South Korea-U.S. exercises. The North Korean military was also reported to have stepped up its anti-air posture targeting aerial activity by South Korean fighter planes, with the forward deployment of SA-2 earth-to-air missiles in the area north of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong Islands.
“The North Korean military was found to have deployed some of its 122 mm MLRSs forward to an inland area near Kaemori, from which the attack on Yeonpyeong Island was launched, and opened additional 76.2 mm naval artillery firing ports besides the previous fourteen locations,” said a military official said Sunday. “The South Korean military is also stepping up its alertness posture to prepare for a potential provocation situation.”
“It appears that North Korea positioned SA-2 earth-to-air missiles to the front following the attack on Yeonpyeong Island,” said a government source. “The government is mobilizing all its resources to precisely monitor the movements.”
Military authorities are taking this activity from North Korea as targeting South Korean fighter planes flying in the area near the NLL. The SA-2 is an anti-aircraft missile developed by the former Soviet Union, and has a firing range of 13 to 30 kilometers. The anti-ship missiles positioned by North Korean on the West Sea coast north of the NLL include Samlets and Silkworms, with a firing range of 80 km.
Although Monday's exercises were cancelled because of bad weather, the tension is still very high. North Korea is even using the really cool phrase "Ultra-Emergency" to describe the situation.. The South Korean military is protesting, and South Korea's President said Monday "Kick sand in our face just one more time and there's gonna be trouble.." Shit's heating up, yo.. Like I said, more updates to come..
If You Haven't Heard Of WikiLeaks Before, You Will This Week..
WikiLeaks has staged document dumps in the past(Iraq and Afghanistan, I'm looking in your direction..), but nothing like this: Seven times the size of Iraq's release, and that was almost four hundred thousand documents! The focus of today's release? U.S. Diplomatic cables regarding everyone. Everyone. Allies, enemies.. It doesn't matter. And now, it's going to be all out there. And it's going to take months for press organizations, other governments, braver souls than I, etc.. to go through all these documents and really assess what they mean and the totality of their impact. Our diplomatic relations with the rest of the world is a big deal, and "lifting the veil" on how that diplomacy works and what our government is really thinking(and how they gossip about it)is a Big Deal.
And someone's not happy with Assange/WikiLeaks. I mean, of course, hackers(or groups wanting to look like hackers), disinformation groups, and the usual right wing types and Administration mouthpieces..
And someone's not happy with Assange/WikiLeaks. I mean, of course, hackers(or groups wanting to look like hackers), disinformation groups, and the usual right wing types and Administration mouthpieces..
Happy 68th Birthday(Saturday), Jimi Hendrix!
Sweet tribute to Hendrix from Aquarius Papers, complete with quite a few performance videos. He was The Innovator, and music and musical history was forever changed..
Here's my post regarding Hendrix from August of last year: Jimi Hendrix; Space Alien..
Here's my post regarding Hendrix from August of last year: Jimi Hendrix; Space Alien..
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Double Dog Uh-Oh..
Chinese government to make 'urgent' announcement
The Chinese government said Sunday it will make an "urgent" announcement later in the day amid rising military tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula.
Whether anyone wants to officially admit it or not, China's involved. So there will be More-To-Follow, I'm sure..
The Chinese government said Sunday it will make an "urgent" announcement later in the day amid rising military tensions surrounding the Korean Peninsula.
Whether anyone wants to officially admit it or not, China's involved. So there will be More-To-Follow, I'm sure..
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